An article from The Sarasota Phoenix -- the local media outlet that exposes corruption and injustice in Sarasota government and politics.
THE JUVENILE CITY COMMISSIONRERS NEED TO END IGNORING BATTIE’S ORCHESTRA ATTACK WITH HIS PATRONS AT CORONA CIGAR BAR ON FRANKLIN
MAYOR ENJOYING A COCKTAIL WITH HIS PATRONS AT THE CORONA CIGAR BAR
BATTIE’S ATTACK ON FRANKLIN ON BEHALF OF YBOR BASED CIGAR BAR HAS DIVIDED SARASOTA
BATTIE CONSPIRED WITH HIS PATRONS AT CORONA CIGAR BAR TO DEFAME FRANKLIN
IS BROWN COMPLICIT IN BATTIE’S RACIST ATTACK ON FRANKLIN?
BROWN NEEDS TO END PUPPETEERING OF BATTIE AND BEING ROBINSON AND MERRILL PUPPET
BATTIE BAR HOPPING IN DOWNTOW SARASOTA NEEDS TO END
BATTIE NEEDS TO START REPRESENTING WORKING FOLKS IN NORTH SARASOTA AND NOT THE FRIENDS OF HAGEN BRODY IN DOWNTOWN SARASOTA
ARROYO AND BATTIE NEED TO END PARTTYING HARDY AT DOWNTOWN BARS
ARROYO LOBBYING FOR HIS LEGAL CLIENTS BORDERS ON THE CRIMINAL
BATTIE LEGAL FEES NEED TO BE WITHDRAWN AS HE CONTINUES NOT TO APOLIGIZE FOR HIS ORCHESTRAED ATTACKS ON FRANKLIN
Franklin
It has been over two and half months since City of Sarasota Commissioner Kyle Battie came before the City Commission at City Hall to deliver with his accomplice Tanya Borysiewicz to intentionally, knowingly, and maliciously planned and orchestrated a vile accusation of racism against a private citizen, Kelly Ann Franklin.
Borysiewicz, who is the co-owner of the Corona Cigar Bar attended the Commission meeting on January 16 and presented a false and incomplete version of events in support of Battie’s hoax on Franklin. The Battie/Borysiewicz hoax depicted Franklin's name and displayed her photograph.
BATTIE RACIST RANT ALL ABOUT HIS PATRONS AT CORONA CIGAR BAR
There is no doubt that Battie went on his over 30-minute rant attacking Franklin and members of the CityPAC organization to essentially attack Franklin and the CityPAC members for their opposition to the Corona Bar in Downtown Sarasota.
It is no coincident that Battie attacked Franklin on behalf of the Corona Cigar Bar where Battie party’s hardy as a Very Important Person (VIP) at the Corona Cigar Bar. Take a look as the then Mayor of Sarasota makes a fool of himself opening up the Corona Cigar bar in Downtown Sarasota drinking their most expensive cocktails and smoking their most expensive cigars.
Merrill
How this totally unqualified City Commissioner Battie, who is nothing more than a puppeteer for City Manager Marlon Brown and Brown’s patrons at the Icard Merrill law firm, William Merrill III and Christine Robinson at the Argus foundation, has not been censored by Sarasota City Commissioners for the maliciously planned and orchestrated vile accusation of racism against a private citizen, Kelly Ann Franklin is appalling.
Arroyo and Battie
It has been equally appalling to watch the Shit Show at City Hall as another Battie “BRO” City Commissioner Eric Arroyo paying back his sponsors of his salacious Mayor Ball, which happen to be the Corona Cigar Bar.
For example, it has been revealed that being the Corona Cigar Bar was not a restaurant, it was not eligible for a sidewalk cafe permit and that it was not issued until a meeting Brown convened with staff in August 2023 at Arroyo’s behest. By the way, Arroyo is another patron of the Corona Cigar bar.
Arroyo getting cigars for a job well done for the Corona Cigar Bar
Also, it is now being revealed that both Commissioner Battie and Commissioner Arroyo have received gifts of value from Corona Cigar, and documentation of that has been retrieved via FOIA request of the city's own records and perusal of public databases and websites.
Thus, if there are any adults on the City Commission they should be made aware others truths are going to surface in Franklin’s lawsuit against Battie, as it progresse and indiviiduals like City Manager Brown among others get deposed.
Arroyo/Brody/Battie
THE THREE BRO’S JUVENILES TURNED CITY HALL INTO A UNIPARTY SHIT SHOW AS BATTIE FEELS "BULLET PROOF"
UNIPARTY CONTROL OF SARASOTA CITY GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO END
Battie and Arroyo are part of the takeover of City Hall by the UNIPARTY, as the THREE BRO'S juveniles headed by former City Commissioner Hagen Brody turned City Hall into a cash cow for “Pay to Play” developers.
Brown
They turned City Hall into a total UNIPARTY SHIT SHOW controlled by Robinson at the Argus Foundation and Merrill III at the Icard Merrill law firm under the watchful of their puppet, City Manager Brown.
Robinson
Battie, who is constantly tutored by Sarasota City Manager Brown and former City Commissioner Brody and always pushing the button YES for developer's for projects Brown puts on the agenda and for being that puppet for Merrill and Robinson, Battie now feels being "bullet proof" from any lawsuit from Franklin.
There is little doubt that this former dog walker and unlicensed masseur, Battie is refusing to apologize for his intentionally knowingly, maliciously planing and orchestrating a vile accusation of racism against a private citizen feels he is bullet proof.
Harrison
Battie’s Intentional and Well-Orchestrated Attack
According to attorney Richard Harrison in filing the lawsuit representing Franklin against Battie, "Battie’s vicious personal attack on Franklin was not a spontaneous, heat of the moment response to what Battie genuinely perceived to be a racist post."
Harrison added, “To the contrary, this was an event that Battie plotted, planned, and coordinated for almost a month before delivering his scripted performance on January 16, 2024."
At the January 16 city commission meeting, Battie produced a photo of a crumpled-up piece of paper purporting to be a post from Franklin’s personal Facebook page. The text of the post referred to “gorillas in the midst” and was accompanied by a photo of Battie at the ribbon cutting for the Corona Cigar Co.”
Before showing the alleged post, Battie went on a lengthy and emotional rant about his personal experience with racism. Battie’s message was clear: Franklin’s post was racist, and Battie was publicly calling her out on it.
Except, it never happened.
The “post” attributed to Franklin was a transparently bad hoax. It took an actual post that Franklin made about a safari trip, complete with stunning photos of the gorillas she encountered there, and mashed it up with an unrelated photo of Battie at the ribbon cutting event. The “post” presented publicly by Battie does not exist and has never existed.
And the few details Battie offered about how he came into possession of this photograph of a crumpled-up paper—it just turned up at the Corona Cigar Co. and the owners passed it on to Battie—would immediately raise red flags in the mind of any sensible person.
Alpert
It was very disappointing and appalling that Sarasota City Mayor Alpert initially fell for Battie’s well-orchestrated stupid attack on Franklin and members of CityPAC organization. Alpert after Franklin and others called out Battie and Borysiewicz well orchestrated hoax, A;pert realized the hoax.
Battie could have apologized to Franklin during the afternoon session of the commission meeting on January 16, by which time pretty much everybody had figured out that the Facebook post Battie displayed was a hoax.
Following the January 16 meeting, three separate overtures were made to the city to offer a path forward to restore Franklin’s good name and reputation without protracted litigation.
Franklin has stated, “All I have asked for is an official investigation into the source of the hoax post, a change in the city’s agenda procedures to prevent items being placed on the agenda without appropriate backup material, and an acknowledgement that neither I, nor the civic watchdog group I am involved with, had anything to do with the vile hoax post Battie published in City Hall on January 16."
Harrison noted. “He could also have apologized at the February 5 commission meeting, but instead demanded that the city pay his legal fees to try to defend his indefensible conduct”.
Instead of apologizing, Battie arrogantly and unbelievable doubled down and demanded that Franklin prove that the post was faked. Battie insisted that it was Franklin’s burden to prove that the Hoax Post was, in fact, a hoax.
What is outrageous and incredible is that instead of the Sarasota Commissioners demanding that Battie apologize for being the documented fraudster and perpetrator of a near criminal hoax, the Sarasota City Commissioners voted to expand $15,000 for Battie’s attorney fees in the lawsuit Franklin has filed against Battie.
HARRISON: "HOAXES LIKE BATTIE'S SMEAR INNOCENT PEOPLE AND MUCH MORE"
It is simply shocking and disgraceful that the City Commissioners are giving public money to defend Battie, who has smeared an innocent Franklin, consuming and diverting important public resources to investigate nonexistent events, that were intended to garner fawning media attention for the narcissistic perpetrators of the hoaxes---Battie and Borysiewicz
How is it justified for public money be appropriated for legal fees to Battie’s handpicked attorney to defend what as Frankin’s attorney has accurately and documented that;
“Battie intentionally, knowingly, and maliciously planned and orchestrated a vile accusation of racism against a private citizen, Kelly Ann Franklin, a Caucasian woman, and then plotted to level his false charges in the most public, high-profile way available to him: from the dais of the Sarasota City Commission in a public meeting.”
Only Battie’s handpicked law firm headed by Morgan Bentley would defend Battie despite what Harrison in filing the lawsuit representing Franklin against Battie writes;
“Battie’s vicious personal attack on Franklin was not a spontaneous, heat of the moment response to what Battie genuinely perceived to be a racist post. To the contrary, this was an event that Battie plotted, planned, and coordinated for almost a month before delivering his scripted performance on 16, 2024."
Bentley
It is disgraceful is that the Sarasota City Commission has authorized up to $15,000 for Battie’s legal fees, which is going to Morgan Bentley law firm, who has defended other fraudsters like Battie.
The 68 CONNVICTED felon Barfield on his way to his 3rd prison term
Bentley has defended the 68 CONVITED felon Michael Barfield, Pat Neal’s political operative convicted of pollical fraud Bob Waechter, not to mention “Pay to Play” developer Henry Rodriquez convicted by a jury of defrauding Hugh Culverhouse Jr..
Bentley is the same attorney who put together a County Commission redistricting map that attempting to disenfranchise thousands of Black voters in the 2022 election.
On it goes with Battie’s UNIPARTY attorney Bentley, as he has been the attorney or the Chairman of the local REC Jack Brill, who has turned the local REC into part of the local UNIPARTY.
Brody
Then there is local mob attorney of Bentley, who put together a $10,000 PAC that Battie’s BRO, Hagen Brody put together for Battie to take out then City Commissioner Willie Brown.
Battie like other Bentley clients is looking for a “home cooked” judicial decision by one of Pat Neal’s appointed judges Bentley has received being Neal’s favorite “Democrat.”
It is no secret that the “Con Man’s Con Man” Barfield has chosen Sarasota and Bentley as his attorney in suing the national ACLU for his ouster as President of the Florida ACLU to deliver a “home cooked DUBENSKY," decision.
Culverhouse
A "DUBENSKY" decision refers to Judge Peter Dubensky overturning the jury decision to award Culverhouse over $20 million for being defauded by Rodriquez and Randy Benderson.
Carroll
Bentley and Barfield might have a problem with Judge Hunter Carrol, who has upset the Neal corrupt local judicial system in recent decisions.
Walker
Not so with Judge Steven Walker, who Battie’s attorney has filed an adjudication to throw out Franklin lawsuit. Judge Walker is one Neal’s handpicked judges who is known for “home cooked DUBENSKY” judicial decisions.
BATTIE RACIST RANT ALL ABOUT HIS PATRONS AT CORONA CIGAR BAR
How this totally irrational piece of Battie garbage called. “Unfinished Business: Civility, Respect, and Rhetoric discussion” got on the agenda without back up material to attack Franklin and the City PAC organization is but another example of the Shit Show going on at City Hall.
There is little doubt Battie and Borysiewicz put together this scandalous racist race card attack on Franklin and with the City Commission authorizing $15,000 of public money to defend this documented fraudster has implicated them in this scandal.
BATTIE AND BARYSIEWICZ ATTACK ON FRANKLIN WAS WELL PLANNED
As Harrison in filing the lawsuit representing Franklin against Battie writes, "Battie’s vicious personal attack on Franklin was not a spontaneous, heat of the moment response to what Battie genuinely perceived to be a racist post.
To the contrary, this was an event that Battie plotted, planned, and coordinated for almost a month before delivering his scripted performance on January 16, 2024."
It is without question Battie and Borysiewicz planned this near criminal attack on Franklin starting on 12/20/2023. The question that MUST be raised was City officials’ part of the plan to take down Franklin, who justifiable has been critic of Browns tenure at City Hall.
These Questions must be asked: WHO wrote the TWO agenda items added to the agenda on 1/10/2023 and why did Battie and Borysiewicz skip a City Commission on 1/10/2023 when Battie and Borysiewicz said they had the bogus hoax picture in their possession ready to go and whether Brown saw the Hoax Post image before Kyle published it in chambers.
The UNIPARTY LGBTQ political operatives who ran Battie and other UNIPARTY candidates campaigns-George Thurlow/Gabriel Hament/Ed James III
Battie is a prime example of how the local UNIPARTY made up of liberal Democrats and Republican RINO, whose campaigns are managed by LGBTQ political operatives and financed by the multimillion-dollar foundations have turned City Hall controlled by “Pay to Play” developers.
Battie's white social elitists supporters at the Tara on the Bay Selby Gardens
Battie was handpicked by then Sarasota City Commissioner Brody to take out Sarasota City Commissioner Willie Shaw who voted against the white social elite multimillion-dollar Selby Garden projects heavily supported by UNIPARTY candidates.
Battie is no doubt the MOST unqualified Sarasota City Commissioner ever elected and it was just a matter of time before he made a complete fool of himself and the Sarasota City Commission, like he has in calling Franklin a racist.
Battie hanging at local Downtown prior being discovered by Brody for City Commissioner
Before running for City Commission, this UNIPARTY Battie had never been to one Coalition of City Neighborhood Association (CCNA) meeting, one local neighborhood meeting, never applied to serve on a City Advisory Board and only voted 11 times in 30 years. Battie never did one thing in the community other than help keep local bars in business.
Battie's mentors -- Brody and Brown running City Hall on behalf of Merrill and Robinson
Battie, who is constantly tutored by Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown and ex Commissioner Brody and always pushes that developer's button YES for projects Brown puts on the agenda.
An SPD INVESTIGATION OF BATTIE AND HIS CRONIES IS A NECESSITY
Battie’s outrageous rant against respected neighborhood activists Franklin and members of City PAC, which has turned into despicable hoax needs a City of Sarasota Police Department investigation.
An SPD investigation is a necessity being that evidence now shows that Battie and his friends at the Corona Cigar Bar involved in this hoax, which has divided Sarasota knew a month before Battie put together his well-orchestrated race card rant that it was a phony. No other rational person could possibly believe this photo was not a phony other than Battie or his cronies.
Jon Susce
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